Quake mercy mission

PUBLISHED: 11:57 08 October 2009 | UPDATED: 11:06 23 August 2010

PARIAMAN, INDONESIA - OCTOBER 04: Rescue workers remove debris as they attempt to free a dead body from houses consumed by an earthquake induced landslide on October 4, 2009 in the village of Jumanak near Pariaman, Indonesia. An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck at 5.16pm local time 85km under the sea north-west of Padang on September 30. According to reports officials have reported a death toll of 700 in the port city of Padang. However, that is expected to rise to over 1,000. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

2009 Getty Images

SCHOOL-CHILDREN and firefighters are helping victims of the devastating earthquake which killed more than 1,000 people in Indonesia. On Monday, pupils at Cobham Primary School were joined by members of Gravesham Rotary Club as they prepared to send shelt

SCHOOL-CHILDREN and firefighters are helping victims of the devastating earthquake which killed more than 1,000 people in Indonesia.

On Monday, pupils at Cobham Primary School were joined by members of Gravesham Rotary Club as they prepared to send shelterboxes to the stricken region.

Days earlier, members of Kent Fire and Rescue Service's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team joined the massive humanitarian relief effort.

Shelterboxes are made up of a 10-man tent, basic tools and cooking equipment. They do not include food - distributed by other aid agencies in the region - but enable a family of four to live for months after a disaster.

Bob Denby, former president and spokesperson for the Rotary Club, said: "The disasters which have struck the Pacific islands will shortly be receiving Rotary shelterboxes, which will make the difference between life and death for many people.

"The Rotary Club of Gravesend would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this project, especially the Gravesham schoolchildren who have worked so hard to buy a box."

Headteacher of Cobham Primary School, Gerald Sperling, said: "We decided this would be a good charity to support for our harvest festival, which takes place next week.

"We always choose a charity which fits in with recent events, and of course the earthquake and tsunami made this cause very important."

As part of the county's response, a specialist team of nine staff and a search dog were among nine units from the UK which flew from Gatwick last Friday to help in the aftermath of last Wednesday's earthquake.

Having arrived in Padang at the weekend, the team was set to return home on Tuesday after carrying out an assessment in the north of the area.

USAR team leader John Mazzey said: "The rescue phase has now moved into the recovery stage and we have been helping to issue aid. The team is in good spirits.